Engine cylinder sleeve heater and method

ABSTRACT

A method for installing a heated piston into a cylinder sleeve that is initially smaller than the piston includes: receiving the engine block at a heating station, heating the engine cylinder sleeve with heated air for a predetermined time at a predetermined temperature such that a temperature of the cylinder sleeve is equal to or greater than a temperature of the piston, and inserting the piston into the heated cylinder sleeve.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The assembly of an automobile engine requires the installation of pistons into the engine's cylinder sleeves. Prior to this installation, however, each piston must be fitted with a connecting rod. The connecting rod is connected to the piston through the use of a steel pin, known as a wrist pin. The wrist pin is press fit into mounting holes provided by the piston, and the connecting rod moves freely on the wrist pin. For the wrist pin to be pressed into the piston, it is necessary to heat the piston to a predetermined temperature causing adequate expansion of the mounting holes to allow the wrist pin to fit. The heated pistons are then installed into the engine's cylinder sleeves. In their heated state, the pistons are expanded and therefore will fit more tightly into the cylinder sleeves than when the pistons are cool.

Many engines have steel cylinder sleeves and aluminum pistons. During normal engine operation, the aluminum pistons expand more than the associated steel cylinder sleeve. To allow for the excess expansion by the piston, a predetermined cold temperature clearance between the piston and the engine cylinder sleeve is provided during production to prevent the piston from fitting too tightly for proper operation when the engine becomes hot during normal operation.

A problem arises with engines using a silica impregnated aluminum cylinder sleeve and an aluminum piston. Since both the sleeve and the piston are made of essentially the same material, they both expand essentially the same amount due to the heating from engine operation, eliminating the need for the cold temperature clearance. However, since the normal tolerances or spaces between the piston's outside diameter and the cylinder sleeve's inside diameter are now very close, the parts will no longer fit together when the piston alone is heated to install the wrist pin.

Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a method of installing a piston into a cylinder sleeve, wherein the piston is initially at an elevated temperature relative to the cylinder sleeve and wherein the initial inner diameter of the cylinder sleeve is less than or equal to the outer diameter of the piston.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for installing a piston, which is initially relatively heated and expanded, into a cylinder sleeve, where the cylinder sleeve's inner diameter is initially less than or equal to the piston's outer diameter.

More specifically, the present invention provides a method for installing a piston into an engine block cylinder sleeve. The method includes heating the piston, inserting a wrist pin into the heated piston, heating the engine cylinder sleeve with a heating apparatus, and inserting the piston into the engine cylinder sleeve.

In further accordance with the present invention, a method for heating an engine cylinder sleeve includes receiving the engine at a heating station, aligning a heating nozzle of the heating apparatus with the engine block cylinder sleeve, heating an incoming air flow to a predetermined temperature with the heating apparatus, and directing the heated air flow to the engine cylinder sleeve through the heating nozzle.

In further accordance with the present invention, a method for optimizing the engine cylinder sleeve heating process includes maintaining a smaller, but continuous air flow through the heating apparatus between cycles (when no engine block is present) to minimize the time required to reheat the air flow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and further features of the invention will be apparent with reference to the following description and drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a cylinder sleeve heating apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a method for heating of the cylinder sleeve within the engine block;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the basic steps of the method according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the detailed steps of the inventive method;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of setting and monitoring the air temperature according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described in accordance with its preferred embodiments. The description in accordance with the preferred embodiment is not meant to limit the invention but rather is intended as a graphic example of the invention. For example, the invention is hereafter described using heated air to heat the engine cylinder sleeve. While heated air is preferred, heating can also be accomplished through the use of any heated gas. It should be further noted that while the following description and drawings show an engine block with only one cylinder sleeve, it is considered apparent that the invention is not limited to heating only a single engine block cylinder sleeve at a time, but rather that the preferred embodiment of the present invention will simultaneously or sequentially heat all of the cylinder sleeves provided by the engine.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a heating apparatus 100 according to the present invention includes an air heating and focusing assembly 104, an air intake and regulation assembly 106, and a controller 108.

The air heating and focusing assembly 104 includes a forced air heater 110, an exhaust or heating nozzle 112, electric resistance heating elements 114, an inlet air thermistor 116, and an outlet air thermistor 118. The electric resistance heating elements 114, the inlet air thermistor 116, and the outlet air thermistor 118 are electrically connected to the controller 108.

The air intake and regulation assembly 106 includes a main air supply 126, a main air supply valve 128, an air flow regulator 130, an idle state solenoid valve 132, and an idle state air flow regulator 134. The main air supply valve 128 and idle state solenoid valve 132 are electrically connected to the controller 108. The air intake and regulation assembly 106 is in fluid communication with the air heating and focusing assembly 104.

The controller 108 includes a programmable logic control (PLC) 140 and a heat control unit (HCU) 142. An output control (not shown) is connected to the PLC 140. The HCU 142 further includes a digital display 148 and an input portion (not shown). The PLC 140 and HCU 142 are electrically connected to one another. As will be described hereafter, the PLC 140 primarily controls the flow of air while the HCU 142 primarily controls the heating of the air in response to sensed conditions and signals from the PLC 140 (i.e. operational status of air flow valves, volume of air flow, etc.).

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, air from the main air supply 126 enters the air intake and regulation assembly 106 of the heating apparatus 100 and is directed to the main air supply valve 128 and the idle state solenoid valve 132. At any given time, either the main air supply valve 128 or the idle state solenoid valve 132 will be open; however, the main air supply valve 128 and the idle state solenoid valve 132 will never be open simultaneously. When the main air supply valve 128 is open and the idle state solenoid valve 132 is closed, air will flow to the air flow regulator 130. When the idle state solenoid valve 132 is open and the main air supply valve 128 is closed, air will flow to the idle state air flow regulator 134. As will be apparent from the following description, the regulators 130, 134 supply air at a reduced pressure to the air heating and focusing assembly 104.

The air heating and focusing assembly 104 is in fluid communication with the air intake and regulation assembly 106. The regulated air flows into the forced air heater 110 of the air heating and focusing assembly 104. The forced air heater 110 defines an inlet, an outlet, and a length. The inlet air thermistor 116 is disposed at the inlet of the forced air heater 110 while the outlet air thermistor 118 is disposed at the outlet of the forced air heater 110. Electric resistance heating elements 114 extend along the length of the forced air heater 110. Thus, air entering the forced air heater 110 passes over the inlet air thermistor 116 and travels through and past the electric resistance heating elements 114 and then passes over the outlet air thermistor 118. As the air flow passes through the electric resistance heating elements 114, the air is heated. Thereafter, the heated air flows into heating nozzle 112 where it is expelled onto the engine cylinder sleeve 20. The amount of current supplied to the heating elements 114 and, thus, the amount of heat provided by the heating elements 114 is controlled by the HCU 142 in response to temperature signals from the thermistors 116, 118 and air flow signals from the PLC 140 so that the temperature of the air flowing through the heating nozzle 112 tracks a predetermined temperature, as will be apparent from the following discussion.

The heating nozzle 112 is movably secured to the forced air heater 110 and is adapted to engage the engine cylinder sleeve 20. The heating nozzle 112 reshapes the heated air flow to focus the heated air to the cylinder sleeve 20 so as to optimize heat absorption by the cylinder sleeve. It should also be noted that to heat a plurality of cylinder sleeves 20 present in a conventional engine, a like number of heating nozzles 112 will be provided by the heating apparatus 100, or by multiple heating apparatuses.

With reference to FIG. 3, a method of installing a piston 10 in an engine cylinder sleeve 20 associated with the heating apparatus 100 will be described. First, the piston 10 is heated (STEP 310) to expand the mounting hole to permit the wrist pin to be inserted therethrough (STEP 320). Then, the engine cylinder sleeve 20 is heated (STEP 330) with heating apparatus 100. Thereafter, the heated piston 10 is slidably inserted into the heated engine cylinder sleeve 20 (STEP 340).

With reference to FIG. 4, details of the engine cylinder sleeve 20 heating process (i.e., STEP 330) will be described. Preliminarily, the engine block is received at a heating station and positioned adjacent to the heating apparatus 100. Then, the heating nozzle 112 is positioned and aligned with the engine cylinder sleeve 20 (STEP 410). According to the present invention, positioning the heating nozzle 112 can be accomplished in different ways. The heating nozzle 112 can fit over the outer circumference of the cylinder sleeve 20 or slide within the cylinder sleeve 20 and heat the cylinder sleeve 20 from within. Also, the heating nozzle 112 can physically engage the engine block/cylinder sleeve 20 or can be maintained at a distance from the engine block/cylinder sleeve 20.

Once the heating nozzle 112 is properly positioned relative to the cylinder sleeve 20 to be heated, the PLC 140 sends a signal to the main air supply valve 128 (STEP 420), opening the main air supply valve 128 and allowing air to flow through the air flow regulator 130 (STEP 430).

The air flow regulator 130, (STEP 430) regulates the pressure and/or volume of air that is supplied to the air heating and focusing assembly 104 to a predetermined value. Preferably, the air flow regulator 130 is manually preset to supply air at the desired pressure and/or volume. Alternatively, the air flow regulator 130 may be electronically controlled by the controller 140. Further, the regulator 130 may be static (i.e., non-adjustable) so as to be operable in accordance with factory presets. It is believed apparent that the regulator setting will be experimentally determined and may represent a range of desired pressures.

The regulated air (STEP 440) flows through the forced air heater 110 and is heated. The temperature of the air entering the heater 110 is measured by the inlet thermistors 116, while the temperature of the heated air downstream the electrical resistance heating elements 114 is measured by the outlet thermistor 118. The incoming air flow rate as well as the air temperatures measured by the thermistors 116, 118 are fed back to the HCU 142 (STEP 450) and the HCU 142 adjusts the electric current being supplied to the electric resistance heating elements 114 such that the temperature of the air output by the heating system 100 tracks a predetermined air temperature (STEP 455), which has been previously input into the controller 108 by the user.

The heated, pressurized air is output from the heating nozzle 112 and applied to the cylinder sleeve 20 for a predetermined time period (STEP 460). The predetermined heating time period is less than or equal to the cycle time of the assembly line. It is important to note that the predetermined heating time and the predetermined heating temperature are generally inversely proportional to each other in that the longer the cycle time (i.e., cylinder sleeve heating time period), the lower the exhaust air temperature (i.e., predetermined heating temperature) can be to heat the cylinder liner to the predetermined temperature.

After the predetermined heating time period, the cylinder sleeve has been expanded such that the inner diameter of the cylinder sleeve is greater than the outer diameter of piston, the engine is released from the heating station, and the piston 10 may then be inserted into the heated and expanded cylinder sleeve 20 (i.e., STEP 340).

The PLC 140 will signal main air supply valve 128 to close, thereby eliminating the air flow from the main air supply valve 128 to the air flow regulator 130. Simultaneously, the PLC 140 will signal the idle state solenoid valve 132 to open, allowing air to flow to the idle state air flow regulator 134 (STEP 470). When the main air supply valve 128 is closed and the idle state solenoid valve 132 is open, the heating apparatus 100 is in the idle state. The heating apparatus 100 will remain in the idle state until a subsequent heating sequence is initiated.

With reference to FIG. 5, the air heating process will be further described (i.e., STEPS 440-460). Initially, the desired exhaust temperature (i.e., predetermined heating temperature) is preset in the HCU 142 (STEP 510). To determine the appropriate exhaust air temperature, several steps must be followed. First, the piston temperature at the time of piston 10 insertion into cylinder sleeve 20 must be determined. During assembly, the piston 10 is heated to a known, normal range of temperatures and will then cool at a certain, known cooling rate. Therefore, the temperature of the piston 10 can be readily ascertained and can be considered to fall within a range of temperatures. The cylinder sleeve 20 must then be heated to at least the temperature of the piston 10 at the time of piston 10 insertion into the cylinder sleeve 20. The requisite temperature of the cylinder sleeve 20 can be expressed by the equation:

T _(CS) =T _(P)−(t×CR _(P)).

Where T_(CS) is the required, minimum heated temperature (i.e., predetermined cylinder sleeve temperature) of the cylinder sleeve 20, T_(P) is the temperature to which the piston 10 is heated, t is the time elapsed since the piston 10 was heated, and CR_(P) is the cooling rate of the piston 10. T_(CS) is a constant; all operations utilizing the same piston 10 will have the same value for T_(CS). Using the minimum temperature, T_(CS), the exhaust air temperature required to sufficiently heat the cylinder sleeve 20 within the cycle time can be experimentally determined. The experimentation can be influenced by any of the following variables: the air flow volume, the starting temperature of the engine cylinder sleeve 20, the rate of heat transfer to and from the engine cylinder sleeve 20, and the cycle time of the assembly. When the required exhaust temperature is determined, the temperature will be entered into the HCU 142 and will serve as the predetermined exhaust air temperature.

The forced air heater 110 and the HCU 142 work in conjunction with one another to heat the air flow to the desired, predetermined exhaust air temperature. To conserve energy and improve system efficiency, the forced air heater 110 and the HCU 142 attempt to heat the air flow to the predetermined air temperature without overheating the air flow. Monitoring of the air flow temperature is accomplished with the thermistors 116, 118 in communication with the HCU 142.

The temperature of the pressurized air flowing into the forced air heater 110 is measured by the inlet air thermistor 116 and an incoming air temperature signal is provided to the HCU 142 (STEP 520). The output air temperature is measured by the outlet air thermistor 118 and fed back to the HCU 142 (STEP 530). Preferably, the incoming air flow rate is stored in the controller 108 and provided to the HCU 142. In response to the sensed inlet and outlet air temperatures and, optionally, the air flow rate, the HCU 142 adjusts the current sent to the electric resistance heating elements 114 (STEP 540) so that the outlet temperature tracks upon the predetermined exhaust air temperature stored in the HCU 142.

More specifically, if the air temperature at the outlet thermistor 118 is less than the desired or predetermined exhaust air temperature, the HCU 142 will increase the current supplied to the electric resistance heating elements 114. If the air temperature at the outlet air thermistor 118 is greater than the desired or predetermined exhaust air temperature, the HCU 142 will reduce the current supplied to the electric resistance heating elements 114. Naturally, if the temperature at the outlet air thermistor 118 is equal to the desired exhaust air temperature, the HCU 142 will not change the current supplied to the electric resistance heating elements 114.

The amount of current increase or decrease will be based upon a correlation between air flow rate, outlet temperature, and inlet temperature, and preferably is derived from a lookup table stored in the HCU 142. Should incoming air flow rate not be provided to the HCU 142, the amount of current increase or decrease will be based solely on the sensed inlet and outlet temperatures. The method of controlling current supplied to the resistance heating elements 114 in response to sensed air temperatures ensures that the exhaust air temperature coming from the forced air heater 110 is heated to at least the predetermined, desired exhaust air temperature necessary to heat the cylinder sleeves to the predetermined cylinder sleeve temperature within the predetermined time period.

Preferably, the air flow heating process continues during the idle state, in which the idle state solenoid valve 132 is open and the main air supply valve 128 is closed. As such, the outgoing air temperature during the idle state tracks on the predetermined exhaust air temperature, albeit at a lower air flow rate or volume. Maintaining air flow and heating operation during the idle state improves the efficiency and longevity of the heating apparatus 100 by reducing the thermal shock experienced by the heating elements, and reduces the time required to re-establish a flow of heated air during a subsequent heating cycle.

During the idle state, a smaller volume of air flows through the system, reducing energy consumption while preventing the electric resistance heating elements 114 from becoming cold. This smaller air flow enters the air heating and focusing assembly 104 via the idle state solenoid valve 132 and the idle state air flow regulator 134.

The specific volume or rate of the air flow during the idle state can be set manually on the idle state air flow regulator 134, can be set electronically via the PLC 140, or can be a factory-preset by the idle state air flow regulator 134 manufacturer. The specific volume or rate of idle state air flow to which the idle state air flow regulator 134 is set will depend on the system parameters and operator preferences. Specifically, the parameters include the physical characteristics of the electric resistance heating elements 114 and the temperature lag when switching between idle state and normal usage of the heating apparatus 100. Using these parameters, the ideal idle air flow can be experimentally determined.

With reference to FIG. 1, air flowing from the idle state air flow regulator 134 enters the forced air heater 110, flows past the inlet air thermistor 116, the heating elements 114, and the outlet air thermistor 118. As during a cylinder sleeve heating operation, the HCU 142 controls the electric current to the electric resistance heating elements 114 to heat the air to the predetermined temperature.

The operating efficiency achieved by operating in the idle state results from the reduced time required for the electric resistance heating elements 114 to reheat to normal operating temperatures to handle the increased incoming air flow during a subsequent heating operation. As the idle state operation will maintain current supplied to the electric resistance heating elements 114 from the HCU 142, the electric resistance heating elements will be maintained at an elevated temperature. This reduces the required change in temperature for the heating elements 114 and thereby allows for faster heating of the electric resistance heating elements 114 upon initiation of a subsequent heating operation.

The longevity achieved by operating in the idle state results from the reduction or elimination of the thermal shock experienced by the electric resistance heating elements 114. Therefore, by maintaining the idle temperature of the electric resistance heating elements 114 at a higher temperature (i.e., close to normal heating operating temperatures), the thermal shock is reduced.

While the present invention has been described with particularity herein, it is considered apparent that the present invention is capable of numerous modifications, substitutions, and rearrangements of parts without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. For example, while the idle state operation is preferred, it is not essential to the operation of the heating apparatus 100 and can be eliminated, if desired. Therefore, the invention is not to be limited to the particular preferred embodiments described hereinbefore, but rather only defined by the claims appended hereto. 

1. A method for heating an engine block cylinder sleeve comprising the steps of: regulating a flow of air into a heating apparatus; heating the air flow to a predetermined exhaust air temperature in the heating apparatus; directing the heated air flow to the cylinder sleeve for a predetermined period of time, wherein the predetermined period of time is based upon a time required to heat the cylinder sleeve to a predetermined cylinder sleeve temperature; and stopping the flow of heated air to the cylinder sleeve following the predetermined time period; wherein the engine block cylinder sleeve is adapted to receive a heated piston and wherein the piston is at a temperature that is less than or equal to the predetermined cylinder sleeve temperature.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the heating apparatus includes an electric resistance heating element and a control unit, comprising the further steps of: measuring an outlet air temperature of the heated air flow downstream the heating element; comparing the measured outlet air temperature to the predetermined exhaust air temperature; and adjusting a current supplied to the electric resistance heating element from the control unit, wherein a decrease in the current decreases the outlet air temperature and an increase in the current increases the outlet air temperature, so as to have the outlet air temperature track the predetermined exhaust air temperature.
 3. The method of claim 2, further including the steps of: measuring an inlet air temperature of the air flowing into the heating apparatus; comparing the measured outlet air temperature to the predetermined exhaust air temperature; and adjusting a current supplied to the electric resistance heating element from the control unit based upon measured inlet air temperature and measured outlet air temperature so that the outlet air temperature tracks on the predetermined exhaust air temperature.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the heating apparatus includes an electric resistance heating element, and comprising the further steps of: measuring an inlet air temperature of air flowing into the heating apparatus and an outlet air temperature of air flowing out of the heating apparatus; comparing the measured outlet air temperature to the predetermined exhaust air temperature; and adjusting a current supplied to the electric resistance heating element based upon measured inlet air temperature and measured outlet air temperature so that the outlet air temperature tracks on the predetermined exhaust air temperature.
 5. A method for assembling a piston into an engine cylinder sleeve, comprising the steps of: heating the piston to a predetermined heated piston temperature; heating the engine cylinder sleeve to a predetermined cylinder sleeve temperature, wherein the predetermined cylinder sleeve temperature is equal to or greater than the predetermined heated piston temperature; slidably inserting the piston into the engine cylinder sleeve.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the engine cylinder sleeve heating step comprising the steps of: positioning a heating nozzle of a heating apparatus adjacent the cylinder sleeve; directing a flow of air into the heating apparatus; heating the air flow and exhausting a heated air flow from the heating nozzle of the heating apparatus; directing the heated air flow to the cylinder sleeve for a predetermined time period, wherein the predetermined time period is equal to or greater than a time required to heat the cylinder sleeve to the predetermined heated cylinder sleeve temperature; and following said predetermined time period, discontinuing heating of the cylinder sleeve with the heated air flow.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the heating apparatus includes an electric resistance heating element, and comprising the further steps of: measuring a temperature of the heated air; comparing the measured heated air temperature to a predetermined exhaust air temperature; and adjusting a current supplied to the electric resistance heating element so that the measured heated air temperature tracks the predetermined exhaust air temperature.
 8. The method of claim 7, comprising the further steps of: measuring a temperature of air incoming to the heating apparatus; adjusting the current supplied to the electric resistance heating element based upon the measured incoming air temperature and the measured heated air temperature.
 9. The method of claim 6, wherein the heating apparatus includes an electric resistance heating element, and comprising the further steps of: measuring a temperature of air incoming to the heating apparatus and a temperature of heated air outgoing from the heating apparatus; adjusting the current supplied to the electric resistance heating element based upon the measured incoming air temperature and the measured heated air temperature so that the measured heated air temperature tracks the predetermined exhaust air temperature.
 10. An apparatus for the heating an engine cylinder sleeve, comprising: an air intake and regulation assembly, the air intake and regulation assembly comprising a main air supply in fluid communication with a main air valve and a main air regulator, wherein the main air supply receives an air flow and directs the air flow to the main air valve which is selectively opened to transmit the air flow to the main gas regulator, the main air regulator regulating the air flow; a heating and focusing assembly receiving a regulated flow of air from the air intake and regulation assembly, the heating and focusing assembly comprising a forced air heater and a heating nozzle, the forced air heater comprising an electric resistance heating element and an air temperature sensor and wherein the heating nozzle is adapted to engage the engine block cylinder sleeve and direct a flow of heated air thereto; and a controller comprising a heating control unit and a programmable logic controller, wherein the heating control unit is electrically connected to the temperature sensor and the electric resistance heating element, and the programmable logic controller is electrically connected to the main gas supply valve, wherein the programmable logic controller selectively opens and closes the main gas supply valve and said heating control unit supplies current to the heating element such that a temperature of air flow through the heating nozzle is equal to a predetermined exhaust air temperature.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the intake and regulation assembly further comprises an idle state intake and regulation assembly, the idle state intake and regulation assembly comprising an idle state air valve that is selectively opened by the controller so as to communicate incoming air to an idle state regulator, wherein the idle state air valve and the idle state regulator are adapted to direct an air flow of a volume less than the air flow associated with the main air supply valve and the main air regulator, and the idle air valve is electrically connected to the programmable logic controller, the programmable logic controller selectively opening the idle state air valve such that the idle state air valve is only open when the main air valve is closed, and the idle state air valve is closed when the main air valve is open.
 12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the heating nozzle is adapted to engage the engine block cylinder sleeve by being slidably inserted within the engine block cylinder sleeve.
 13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the heating nozzle is adapted to engage the engine block cylinder sleeve by forming a seal over an opening of the engine block cylinder sleeve. 